NASCAR rules that required automakers to put on the street facsimiles of the racers they put on the track resulted in some extravagant muscle cars, and none was more outrageous than the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird.
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Long-time Elvis fans and 1971 Road Runner hardtop coupe admirers share one important experience: Both groups have had to witness the object of their veneration grow from spare and hunky to showy and chunky.
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Plymouth dealers gave away this promotional windbreaker in 1970. The "heart with an arrowhead at bottom" design was part of Plymouth's ad campaign that year. The Road Runner is holding a helmet with the same symbol on it.
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The Plymouth Deluxe, was a full-size automobile, produced by the Plymouth division of Chrysler, from 1946-1950. It came in two trim levels, the Deluxe and the top-of-the-line Special Deluxe. It was the first model line of the manufacturer after WWII and was replaced by the Concord, the Cambridge and the Cranbrook for 1951.
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The Plymouth Road Runner Superbird was a sister design to the Dodge Charger Daytona, an automobile that existed for two reasons - to beat the Ford Torino and win at NASCAR, an American stock car racing series. It was also created to get Richard Petty back to Plymouth in NASCAR. Both cars featured NASA inspired shark noses to sharpen up designs which were basically boxes, and never-topped goal-post wings, and still draw stares wherever they appear as such cars disappeared almost as soon as they were developed. The wings were a subject of debate as to whether they were that size for aerodynamic reasons or simply to allow the trunk to open; the initial intention may have been to ensure the trunk was usable due to it being a consumer product; however, the wing and supports keep the rear tires ...
As 1970 rolled around, another redesign was in order for the Barracuda. The performance version was badged and advertised as the 'Cuda. This year's new design looked quite a bit different from the previous models. One of the reasons was that it was now built on a new, slightly shorter, wider, and sportier version of Chrysler's existing B platform, the E-body. This new generation eliminated the fastback, but kept the two-door coupe and convertible versions. It also had a Dodge near-twin known as the Challenger; however, not one body panel interchanged between the two cars and the Challenger had a slightly longer wheelbase. Both were aggressively and cleanly styled, although they were clearly influenced by the first-generation Chevrolet Camaro.
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The original Plymouth Barracuda was built upon the A-body chassis, which was also common to several other vehicles manufactured by Chrysler, including the popular Dodge Dart. The 1964 model was offered as an option of the Valiant line and carried Valiant insignia. It was designed to appeal to a sportier market, and some might claim it was the first pony car because it preceded the Ford Mustang to market by two weeks. However, the Mustang, unlike the Barracuda, featured a completely unique body style from the car on which it was based (the Ford Falcon), making it the first true pony car. Plymouth's executives initially wanted to call the car the 'Panda' but the designers complained and John Samsen's idea of 'Barracuda' was chosen.
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